WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 477

CHAPTER 477

(House Bill 1618)

AN ACT concerning

Criminal Law - Threats Against State Officials

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from sending, delivering,
or making certain writings or documents containing threats
upon certain State officials; prohibiting a person from
knowingly and willfully making certain threats against
certain State officials; defining certain terms; providing
certain penalties for a violation of this Act; and generally
relating to threats against State officials.

BY adding to

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

Section 561A

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1987 Replacement Volume and 1988 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

561A.

(A)  (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(2)  (I) "STATE OFFICIAL" MEANS A STATE OFFICIAL AS
DEFINED IN ARTICLE 40A, § 1-201(GG) OF THE CODE.

(II) "STATE OFFICIAL" INCLUDES THE GOVERNOR,
GOVERNOR-ELECT, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, AND LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR-ELECT.

(3)  "THREAT" INCLUDES:

(I)  A VERBAL THREAT; OR

(II)  A THREAT IN ANY WRITTEN FORM, WHETHER OR
NOT THE WRITING IS SIGNED, OR IF IT IS SIGNED WHETHER OR NOT THE
WRITING IS SIGNED WITH A FICTICIOUS NAME OR ANY OTHER MARK.

(B)  A PERSON MAY NOT KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY MAKE A THREAT
TO TAKE THE LIFE OF, KIDNAP, OR INFLICT BODILY HARM UPON A STATE
OFFICIAL.

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